Bicycle race in Crystal Lake.

Okay, maybe it’s not really the beginning of summer. But,

Memorial Day marks the official beginning of summer. The memory of extreme cold or snow days that sticks, keeping some kids in classrooms for a couple more weeks, is hardly enough to keep fidgety feet from running down the block or mounting bicycles. Even adults are riding or walking to work or to the train station. A bicyclist can make his way from Hebron pass through Batavia, and on to Montgomery, Ill. without leaving a trail. On a Sunday morning outing a family can start in Richmond and picnic in Moraine Hills, stopping at the park in McHenry for a breather.

Algonquin, Woodstock, and Lakemoor have Complete Streets policies, which meet requirements of the Complete Streets Coalition. The CSC’s mission is to provide safe travels for pedestrians, bicyclers, and people who use public transportation as part of village or city planning. Other communities like Crystal Lake, Cary; Marengo, and Union are working hard to provide bike lanes and marked crosswalks in the same spirit as CSC’s mission. Many of the bike lanes and trails of the municipalities connect with the bike trails maintained by IDOT.

The Hebron Trail is 5.1 miles long, starting at Church Street in Hebron and ending at Burgett Road near the Ill./Wis. border. Hebron Trail connects to Prairie Trail at Brugett Road. Hebron Trail is crushed stone and gravel. (One reviewer noted: Bonus! Ice cream in Hebron.)

The Prairie Trail starts at the Ill. /Wis. border in the North Branch Preserve. Travelers can stop or choose to travel on through Crystal Lake and Algonquin. The trail doesn’t end there, but soon joins the Fox River Trail (ending past Batavia) or the Randall Road Bicycle Trail, which connects with the Great Western Trail. The adventurous rider can travel all the way to Iowa on the Great Western Trail or bank east continuing of the Prairie Trail to Maywood, Il. These trails are paved and tree lined.

Moraine Hills Trail winds through Moraine State Park, under River Road and around the dam. The path is 11 miles of a combination of asphalt and gravel/limestone. This is a great chance to see wildlife and work up to a longer trail. Some steep hills may require novice bikers to stop and walk a bit, and be mindful that the trail can change from asphalt to gravel without much warning. The path at Moraine Hills continues out of the park and north to I-120, where it turns west to McHenry. The trail eventually joins the Prairie Trail.

The Huntley-Union-Marengo Trail, or HUM Trail, starts at Vine Street in Union and travels 3.5 miles to East Street in Marengo, where it connects to sidewalks and bicycle safe streets. The extension to Huntley is yet to be completed. This asphalt path is straight, flat, and pleasantly tree-lined with safe crossings at streets.

The Ridgefield Trace Trail is another good “starter trail.” It runs from Veteran Acre Park on Walk-up in Crystal Lake to McHenry County College. The trail is 3 miles of straight, nearly flat to roll asphalt. With care, bicyclists can navigate sidewalks past Prairie Ridge High School and through the parking lot and onto Ridgefield Road. Within two miles, the bicyclist will join Prairie Trail. Caution is advised on Ridgefield Road, so families with smaller children may not wish to make the over-road trek.

Huntley and Cary are peppered with designated bicycle paths. Although some of these are connected, for the most part, it takes some maneuvering through city streets and sidewalks to get from one to the other.

Moderate speed limits are posted on the bicycle trails, which discourage bicycle racing and make it safe for families to ride in what can be a willy-nilly fashion. Still, it’s important to obey the Bicycle Rules of the Road, and to be courteous. Although, large groups often spread across two lanes of the bike trail, only one lane is designated for each direction of travel. When traffic is coming, always move right and travel single file. It’s courteous to signal with voice or a bell when passing on the left. Remove bicycles from the bike trail, whenever stopping for a break.

Whether traveling alone or in a group, bicyclers should think about safety. Travel with a spare inner tube, a multipurpose knife or tool, and a safety kit. Never travel without identification and a means of communication. No one wants to be stranded in the middle of a long stretch of trail with a serious scrape, sprain, or even a broken bone. And be sure to stay hydrated and protected from sunburn.

According to Bicycle Rules of the Road by Jesse White, bicycles can use the roadways and have equal responsibilities and rights as motorists. Many municipalities have designated bicycle lanes. Bicyclist may also use the sidewalk. When doing so, pedestrians still have the right of way. Bicyclists must always yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk or on the bicycle path. Since bicyclists may use the roadways or the sidewalks, they should be aware of the rules for bother motorists and pedestrians.

Bicycle Rules of the Road includes some caveats, like a bicyclist using the roadways must stop at a traffic light, but may proceed after 120 seconds, if traffic is clear. The Rules also apply when riding on a Bike Trails.

Bicyclists should be aware and watch for cars at all times while moving through an intersection, even within the striped crosswalk.

Pedestrians and bicyclists have many of the same responsibilities. If a vehicle is approaching at the legal speed limit, and a pedestrian or bicyclist doesn’t give the driver time to react before stepping into the crosswalk or off the curb, the bicyclist or pedestrian is violating the law.

The best pedestrian or bicyclist policy is to pay attention, which includes not texting or talking on the phone while crossing the street, and removing ear buds to better hear oncoming traffic. Having the right-of-way will not protect you from a serious injury.

A crosswalk is marked with wide, white stripes and may be accompanied by a sign, a traffic light, or a flashing signal. Motorists must stop when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk and may not proceed until the pedestrian is out of the crosswalk. It is not unlawful to cross the street at other than a marked crosswalk. The word ‘jaywalking’ does not appear in the Illinois Vehicle Code.

The mission of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois’ residents and visitors in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity, and demonstrate respect for the environment. To that end, IDOT commissioned the preparation of a Long Range Transportation Plan. In addition to the highway element, the plan includes Bike Transportation Plan.

Maps of the bike trails may be ordered at: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/recreation/trails-paths-streets/index